topic Re: It's Very Quiet in Selling

It's Very Quiet

clubesquire — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 05:20:01 GMT

Gee! It's quiet isn't it? Or, is it just us? Our page views are way down.

And, money does seem to be a bit short. I wish politicians would stop 'gobbing off.' I'm convinced they have affect on commerce.

Are we entering a known seasonal lull?

Melina.

Re: It's Very Quiet

twyngwyn — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 05:25:17 GMT

Xmas is only 7 weeks away - it should be busy

Re: It's Very Quiet

davewil1964 — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 05:55:44 GMT

Average here. As pretty much always.

Re: It's Very Quiet

outback_blends — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 06:13:34 GMT

If it was any slower it would be going backwards. People I have talked to wont use ebay anymore as they are sick of trolling through hundreds of Chinese sellers and buying from oz sellers who post from China.

I dont think its anything to do with ecomomy - people have lost faith and trust in Ebay.

Re: It's Very Quiet

clubesquire — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 06:46:38 GMT

What is it like after Christmas. I suppose it gets really quiet?

Might be better taking a month of two out, come back and see what it's like then. I mean, it's no good maintaining listings when there's no lookers.

We had a fabulous couple of weeks, but then it stopped in the space of 24 hours. Where on a certain brand we might have got say a couple of hundred page views, that's now down as low as twenty. One is actually at eight!! It's certainly not pricing or bad feedback or anything obvious like that, I just don't think the traffic is there.

Anyway, onwards and upwards.

Melina.

Re: It's Very Quiet

twyngwyn — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 07:00:48 GMT

Hi Melina.....I see 12 listings.

Don't forget that every time you come on the boards people will automatically look at your items. If there is no intention to buy your ratio of clicks vs buys will increase, putting you further down the pecking order...I will try & find the link

Re: It's Very Quiet

imastawka — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 07:14:00 GMT

Twynnie's right about people looking at your listings every time you come to the boards.

But, personally, I think sales are down right now, because the zoom function wasn't

working.

I know I didn't buy anything if I couldn't get a good look at it.

Re: It's Very Quiet

twyngwyn — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 07:16:31 GMT

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/sell/listing-analytics.html

Re: It's Very Quiet

digital*ghost — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 07:40:33 GMT

@clubesquire wrote:
What is it like after Christmas. I suppose it gets really quiet?

I don't think there's really much of an average or consistent experience for any seller, to be honest (at any given time of the year, and I mean that on a general basis, not in terms of throttling / revenue limitations some sellers have spoken about recently).

eg For a couple of years I had really quiet June / July months, really busy in the lead up to Christmas, always expecting a dramatic drop after that never really came, but this year I had a quiet Jan / Feb, busy June / July, not so busy right now in terms of number of buyers, but higher than average order sizes, so it will be interesting to see how the next few months pan out.

I'm not getting as many views as I used to on newer listings, but I think eBay's listing limits based on their new fangled inactive listings policy is starting to take shape and affect my visibility (I know that sounds like a contradiction, but I'm thinking older listings may be bogging me down, at least, I know I hang on to slow moving stock a little too long sometimes), but it's also my only source of income so I don't really have much of a choice but to keep ploughing on, listing new items, shaking things up a bit to keep it fresh, while continuing to build things up, here and elsewhere.

Re: It's Very Quiet

clubesquire — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 08:36:34 GMT

Hehe!! I'll let Giorgio smoke it.

But yes, I see what you are saying.

And I'm sure that photo enlargement issue has also had its affect. Ours has been on-off for about two weeks I think. It seems to be okay today.

One of the things we've been watching closely lately is costs of business. I suppose we're no different to many, our margins are frighteningly low. Earlier though, we got a bit of a shock to realise we were coming out backwards. We've increased prices, but only slightly. I don't think that alone would explain the slow-down, I mean there is really no universal benchmark with pricing of what we sell other than being competitive with others, but there's many variables at play; brand, age, rarity, artisan, aesthetics and so on it goes. But irrespective, the eBay marketplace is a tough one. People do expect Rolls Royce at Hyandai prices!!

Oh well, a few new listings coming on. We'll see if things change.

Nice chatting all. Thank you.

Melina.

Re: It's Very Quiet

springyzone — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 22:23:32 GMT

@twyngwyn wrote:
Hi Melina.....I see 12 listings.

Don't forget that every time you come on the boards people will automatically look at your items. If there is no intention to buy your ratio of clicks vs buys will increase, putting you further down the pecking order...I will try & find the link

I will click to see someone's listings ocasionally but only if they have asked a specific question about them-maybe asked what people think of the way their ads are set out or if they have commented about a particular item number.

But otherwise, never. I wouldn't say that every time anyone comes to the boards people will look at their items, just sometimes.

I know melina has asked questions lately about her listings so that would have increased her recent ad views though.

Re: It's Very Quiet

clubesquire — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 23:23:33 GMT

I'm relieved. Overnite, just like that, our page views have increased dramatically. More watchers coming on and a couple of sales. Wonderful!

Its hard to figure, but being overnite I think the Views would have to be international, more so than Aussie.

Anyway, it's a better day and I hope it is you you guys too.

Melina.

Re: It's Very Quiet

*tippy*toes* — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 23:39:14 GMT

@clubesquire wrote:
Gee! It's quiet isn't it? Or, is it just us? Our page views are way down.

And, money does seem to be a bit short. I wish politicians would stop 'gobbing off.' I'm convinced they have affect on commerce.

Are we entering a known seasonal lull?

Melina.

Go and say that at your local emergency department and see the reaction you get. Things would start moving super quickly, usually by way of them piffing projectiles at you at high speed!

Always assume things will be quiet here. Then if it does get busy, it's a bonus. EBay is not what it used to be by a long shot.

Re: It's Very Quiet

clubesquire — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 02:01:36 GMT

It's sad, because I do think there was a time, business aspects aside, when everyone really enjoyed eBaying and had a lot of plain good fun with it all. I certainly did and there was lots more communication between sellers and buyers of a general nature where you did get to know each other quite a bit. I especially enjoyed this with customers from far flung places. They did too and the cultural exchange was superb.

We're finding that element of cautious reserve, perhaps to the extent of open distrust with most now, certainly until they get to know you a bit. It certainly wasn't there the last time we were selling. It was much more relaxed and the expectations were that everyone would do the right thing. Mostly. Rose coloured glasses perhaps. But, I remember having a lot of fun.

What we've found paramount though, is the high level of bad feeling, malice even, towards eBay by buyer and seller alike. It's very tangible and how it ever got to this I don't know. We've been fortunate, so far, and have only had good support from eBay staff and hope it continues, but as I said in another post, I find myself tippy toing about the place and being super cautious. It's a bit like being macro managed by a tyrant employer with the DCM letter (Don't come Monday) hanging over your head all the time. Arrggghhh! Ever the drama queen. I fret way too much. But it has certainly changed for the worst unfortunately.

Some of the stories I've heard, which I do my best to validate, are pretty out there and there's just too many of them with that 'ring of truth' to be blatantly ignored. Go with caution I think. As I said, sad!

I keep saying too that the people at the top end of eBay must be very clever and supremely intelligent. They simply must! But, to fathom some of the decisions and direction really taxes my brain. I'm far from being an entrepreneur, but logic and common sense usually works for people like me. Why not them?

And, they must monitor these pages?? Surely, you'd think they would pick up on some good 'coal face' feedback, or are those who offer good constructive critique looked upon as serial trouble makers and perhaps penalised in some way were all unaware of? I hope that's not the case,.

Fingers crossed I guess. So far we've been treated well and let's hope it continues. But, I do wish eBay would help others I know are really struggling - good honest people just trying their best, but in some cases treated pretty badly. It's so much easier to be kind to someone and help rather than hinder. It's a good feeling and it's the right thing anyway.

I hope you are all feeling good. It's a beautiful, but hot and muggy day in BrisVegas. Bad storms, like yesterday, predicted for later.

Melina.

Re: It's Very Quiet

imastawka — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 02:24:03 GMT

Ebay most certainly do not read these boards even when they say they will.

Lots of complaints re technical issues on this board, but no-one ever answers -

https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Technical-Issues/bd-p/Technicalissues

Re: It's Very Quiet

kopenhagen5 — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 11:01:55 GMT

@imastawka wrote:
Ebay most certainly do not read these boards even when they say they will.

Lots of complaints re technical issues on this board, but no-one ever answers -

https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Technical-Issues/bd-p/Technicalissues

Technical Issues
When you experience a technical issue on eBay, we want to know. The eBay team will reguarly check this board for reported issues.

ebay's technical department's response on board issues - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7jOP4P-efc

Re: It's Very Quiet

imastawka — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 12:31:38 GMT

Every bleedin' time!!!!

Rick-rolled again!!

Re: It's Very Quiet

chameleon54 — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:00:33 GMT

@clubesquire wrote:
It's sad, because I do think there was a time, business aspects aside, when everyone really enjoyed eBaying and had a lot of plain good fun with it all. I certainly did and there was lots more communication between sellers and buyers of a general nature where you did get to know each other quite a bit. I especially enjoyed this with customers from far flung places. They did too and the cultural exchange was superb.

We're finding that element of cautious reserve, perhaps to the extent of open distrust with most now, certainly until they get to know you a bit. It certainly wasn't there the last time we were selling. It was much more relaxed and the expectations were that everyone would do the right thing. Mostly. Rose coloured glasses perhaps. But, I remember having a lot of fun.

What we've found paramount though, is the high level of bad feeling, malice even, towards eBay by buyer and seller alike. It's very tangible and how it ever got to this I don't know. We've been fortunate, so far, and have only had good support from eBay staff and hope it continues, but as I said in another post, I find myself tippy toing about the place and being super cautious. It's a bit like being macro managed by a tyrant employer with the DCM letter (Don't come Monday) hanging over your head all the time. Arrggghhh! Ever the drama queen. I fret way too much. But it has certainly changed for the worst unfortunately.

Some of the stories I've heard, which I do my best to validate, are pretty out there and there's just too many of them with that 'ring of truth' to be blatantly ignored. Go with caution I think. As I said, sad!

I keep saying too that the people at the top end of eBay must be very clever and supremely intelligent. They simply must! But, to fathom some of the decisions and direction really taxes my brain. I'm far from being an entrepreneur, but logic and common sense usually works for people like me. Why not them?

And, they must monitor these pages?? Surely, you'd think they would pick up on some good 'coal face' feedback, or are those who offer good constructive critique looked upon as serial trouble makers and perhaps penalised in some way were all unaware of? I hope that's not the case,.

Fingers crossed I guess. So far we've been treated well and let's hope it continues. But, I do wish eBay would help others I know are really struggling - good honest people just trying their best, but in some cases treated pretty badly. It's so much easier to be kind to someone and help rather than hinder. It's a good feeling and it's the right thing anyway.

I hope you are all feeling good. It's a beautiful, but hot and muggy day in BrisVegas. Bad storms, like yesterday, predicted for later.

Melina.

You havnt been back long, but you have got the whole thing summed up pretty well.......

Re: It's Very Quiet

padi*0409 — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:05:24 GMT

Never mind Stalks, here ya go.................

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVihOxP2QeY

........gotcha.................tee hee

Re: It's Very Quiet

*tippy*toes* — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 13:10:06 GMT

Here ya go Padster, just for you.

You can thank me later. You're welcome.